In Spain, soaring rents force hundreds of homeless to seek refuge at Madrid airport
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On a sweltering May evening, Meza arrived at Barajas airport before 9pm - just in time to get past security. Any later, and people without a boarding pass are not allowed in under a new policy implemented a week ago to deter the hundreds of homeless people staying overnight.
The measure aims to address the rising number of people sleeping in Spain's busiest airport – a situation thrust into the spotlight by images showing rows of people lying on the floor among bags and shopping trolleys, sparking a blame game between government officials.
Those who call Barajas home say the increased scrutiny in Europe's fifth busiest airport is unwelcome.
Homeless people lay on the floor of Terminal 4 of the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport in Madrid. Photo: AFP
They doubt solutions will come and fear losing what they see as the safest place to sleep, compared to the streets or the metro in a city where homeless shelters have limited capacity.
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